Burrowed amongst extensive X-Games construction and L.A. Live weekend traffic, the historic South Central L.A. Tea Party held their first rally on July 24, 2011 outside the 102nd NAACP National Convention in Downtown Los Angeles to challenge the racist allegations against the Tea Party movement. During this busy Sunday afternoon, Tea Party advocates from all over Southern California came together on the lawn of the L.A. Convention Center in support of their newest members. In addition to signs that read “Give Me Liberty, Don’t Give Me Debt” and “Spread My Work Ethic, Not My Wealth,” there were signs that called the NAACP “Morally Bankrupt” and “Pro-Union, Anti-Black Citizens” which had some NAACP proponents booing and honking for the protestors to go home.
While the crowd robustly chanted “Tea Party No Retreat” and “Obama Stop Lying,” more heated NAACP supporters stood on the outer edge of the rally, contentiously spewing opposing views and yelling “the Tea Party is racist!” Still other adversaries coming from the convention peacefully gathered around to listen to the speakers and interact with the multi-racial crowd. When Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, organizer of the South Central L.A. Tea Party, took to the mic and proclaimed, “It’s not about being black, it’s not about being white, it’s about protecting America,” the 200 plus Tea Party members cheered.
Amid the array of enthusiasts was political activist Ted Hayes, Jr. who elaborated on the purpose of the South Central L.A. Tea Party gathering, “It will cause Black people to think. It gives us an option…hopefully, Jesse Peterson’s controversial step will cause Black people, even though to disagree with him, to at least consider what wrong with him, what he’s thinking about, and maybe they will find their way.” Having just come from the NAACP convention himself, The Tygrrrr Express conservative columnist, Eric Golub, said in defense of the NAACP, “It’s not a bunch of raving leftist preaching death to Republicans, it’s about medical and health issues, and the Army and Marines are in there.” A collected man promoting the decency of the NAACP added that an award ceremony for Black students who did well in school was taking place at that very moment.
The Tea Party rally was about far more than disproving the allegations of racism within its membership- which it did through the noticeable presence of multi-cultural supporters- it was about bringing to light the issues facing the Black community. Hayes made it clear that an addiction to the Federal government exists within his people that has been instilled since slavery, and that the reliance on the system will continue to affect generations to come. Abruptly cutting entitlement programs will sever the umbilical cord to millions of Americans, ultimately creating an unsustainable community. Until an alternative plan is produced by the Conservatives, the dependency cycle will continue. Golub reported there was an author at the NAACP Convention signing his book titled Black Carpenter that promoted the idea of establishing trade schools within urban cities, and encouraging young adults to study a trade. Implementation of these institutions would gradually ween the next generation off the system, transforming them into independent, working tax payers in lieu of the bleak futures that await them today.
The South Central L.A. Tea Party rally was a historic event which brought together minds from all walks of life to promote and discuss personal liberty, freedom, and the American dream.